10 Video Game Fan Theories Better Than The Story We Got

4. Hotline Miami Is About How Stories Can Ruin Gameplay

Hotline Miami doesn't have much of a straightforward story, opting instead to allow the player to indulge in the title's ridiculously over-the-top violence without worrying about why they're doing what they're doing.

But in the moments where the narrative does become clear and pointed, it's seemingly there to prove how much stories can get in the way of great gameplay.

Because when the title does reveal its cards and explain what's been going on, it punishes the player with specific answers. The most striking example comes when you're forced to complete a mind-numbing stealth sequence that throws away the title's signature gameplay in favour of a 'story-led' section that restricts your abilities and obscures your view by warping the screen.

Consequently this section, combined with a narrative that becomes less interesting the more you know about it, has been accepted by many some fans as the developers commenting on the age-old 'story vs. gameplay' argument, clearly showing the benefits of putting the focus on the latter.